In photo: P&A Grant Thornton Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Partner Atty. Olivier D. Aznar, PBCWE Executive Director Julia Andrea R. Abad, Chairman and Managing Partner Romualdo “Boyet” V. Murcia III, and the rest of P&A Grant Thornton and PBCWE teams

6 May 2025, Makati City, Philippines — P&A Grant Thornton strengthen its commitment to advancing Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through the successful conduct of its Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategies (GEARS) Action Planning Workshop, facilitated in partnership with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE). 

The GEARS Action Planning Workshop, held on April 28, 2025, marked the final step of P&A Grant Thornton’s engagement with the GEARS assessment process. Through the tool’s data-driven approach, businesses are able to identify gaps, opportunities, and strengths in their current WGE strategies, empowering them to make informed and strategic decisions to foster more inclusive workplaces. 

For P&A Grant Thornton, the GEARS process culminated in a collaborative action planning session where the Senior and Executive Leadership Team, led by Romualdo “Boyet” V. Murcia III, Chairman and Managing Partner, and Atty. Olivier D. Aznar, Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Partner and People & Culture Practice Leader, actively participated. Their involvement highlighted the organization’s firm commitment to building a culture that champions diversity, inclusion, and equity. 

During the session, Reuben James Barrete, Program Manager at PBCWE, presented P&A Grant Thornton’s Vision Board, guiding the senior leadership through a strategic reflection on the company’s WGE and DEI priorities. The process allowed the leadership team to revisit, assess, and strengthen their existing policies and programs and to articulate a renewed direction for advancing gender equality within the organization and the broader professional services sector. 

“At P&A Grant Thornton, we firmly believe that advancing gender equality is not just the right thing to do—it is essential to building a resilient, innovative, and forward-thinking organization. Today’s action planning session reinforces our commitment to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive,” said Mr. Romualdo “Boyet” V. Murcia III, Chairman and Managing Partner of P&A Grant Thornton. 

Amica Laine Francisco, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Manager at PBCWE, presented the findings of P&A Grant Thornton’s GEARS assessment. She noted the firm’s outstanding performance in three key focus areas: preventing and addressing gender-based harassment and discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying, and domestic and family violence; mainstreaming flexible work practices; and promoting professional development, mentoring, and sponsorship opportunities. These areas were recognized as leading practices that place P&A Grant Thornton among the progressive organizations driving change in the sector. 

Building on these strengths, P&A Grant Thornton is set to intensify its efforts by institutionalizing WGE training across all levels, increasing awareness and practices on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and enhancing its talent management policies and strategies to ensure sustainable progress. 

Julia Abad, Executive Director of PBCWE, underscored the vital role of leadership engagement in embedding gender equality in organizational culture. “The active involvement of CEOs and senior leadership is critical to the success of any gender equality and inclusion initiative. At the same time, it is equally important to foster an environment where differing perspectives among leaders are not just acknowledged, but actively explored and, when appropriate, prioritized. A culture of open dialogue leads to stronger, more resilient strategies that deliver real impact,” she said. 

The partnership between P&A Grant Thornton and PBCWE reflects a shared vision to create workplaces that are inclusive, equitable, and empowering for all. As P&A moves forward in embedding WGE and DEI into its strategic agenda, it continues to set a powerful example for the professional services industry and beyond.